Data Story : Domestic violence increases in Bangladesh and turned into Tragedy to the Women

      Domestic violence increases in  Bangladesh and turned into Tragedy to the Women 

Bangladesh, a lower middle income country has gained prosperity in the economic and infrastructure sector and is doing well in many social  and health indexes. Government has also given priority  on Women's empowerment as well as on gender equality .But the promise to increase women’s empowerment becomes shaky due to the domestic violence occurring in Bangladesh.

Ain O Salish Kendra publishes reports of domestic violence against women monthly and yearly .The situation of domestic violence is turning into a vulnerable condition and becoming a threat.

In January to March of 2024,according to Ain O Salish Kendra,137 women faced domestic violence. The alarming fact is that 65 women,47.44% of the total victims, were murdered by their husband and family. Not only that,49 women decided suicide ,that was 35.77% of the total.

In only 3 months this year, Almost 83.33% of the total victims lost their lives in domestic violence. Now ,explore the past record to know the trend and  what was the contemporary scenario of domestic violence in Bangladesh in recent years from 2019 to 2023..

As per the statistics of Ain O Salish Kendra, 52 women faced torture from husband and husband family in 2019.Womens committed to suicide due to violence is 60.Meanwhile the number of murdered  was so high and 311 women murdered by their husband and family.

From 2019 , the number of tortured women  increased gradually and comparatively highest in 2021.

Though the number of torture remains in medium level, the amount of murder and suicide is remain high .Women's are murdered by their husbands and family due to the demand of dowry, sometimes poverty, drug addiction ,traditional ,societal and cultural norms are also responsible for it.

Women's decided to commit suicide are increasing from 2019. In 2019 the number of suicide is 60,Over a year it becomes 90.That means 50% increased from 2019 .Both in 2020 and 2023 the number is 142.That is the highest in recent years and it increased 136.66 % from 2019. 

 

 

According to Ain O Salish Kendra,2603 women had faced domestic violence from 2019 to 2023.The alarming thing is that,1634 women were murdered by their husband -husband’s family and own family.531 Victims also Suicided due to the violence.

In recent years (2019-2023) ,maximum violence against women is murder.62.8% of the total violence are the incidents of murders against women by their husband and family.20% incidents are committed suicide by the women's against the violence and 17.2% of the total  are tortured by their husband and family. That means 82.2% of the total  Victims lost their lives due to domestic violence.

Government made laws to minimize domestic violence. There are strong laws for domestic violence against women. But the question arises, in the presence of strong laws and guidelines, why the rate of domestic violence is not decreasing , then the reasons behind the failure will come as an answer.

Bangladesh’s society is a patriarchal society. In domestic violence ,sometimes women do not get support from their own family. If the woman wants to take legal actions ,own family and society demotivate to take legal actions .The situation will be more clear if one look at the number of cases filed against domestic violence.

Only 47.28 percent of the victims filed case against domestic violence in 2019. Although Bangladesh has strong laws against domestic violence but Victim women are not able to take legal actions. In recent years, The percentage of legal actions has bubbled between 43.98 to 49.64 percent. That means more than 50 percent of the victim women do not get enough support to take legal actions. 

From 2019 to 2023 ,Only 46% of the total victims filed a case. The reason behind this low interest is to take legal actions as the victim women will face bullying from the traditional mindset people . They will not get enough support to take legal actions from family and relatives. 

Though in Bangladesh special tribunals aim to give justice to the victims, the number of tribunals are not enough to solve the cases. In the cases of domestic violence against women, trials are supposed to end in 180 days but most of the time it takes more than 180 days to  solve the cases.

As a result, victim women feel frustrated over Judicial procedure and lose their courage to fight against domestic violence.  Many times, Punishment of the accused remains unimplemented.

Domestic violence creates barriers in  establishing women's empowerment and active participation of women in the development of  Bangladesh. It is high time to find the solutions to  diminish domestic violence against women  to establish women’s empowerment as well as gender equality .If the violence against women decreases ,it will take a few moments that women will convert  as active manpower in the economic development of the country .